Homeopathy medicine: fact or fiction?

Homeopathy was the brainchild of great German from 18th century and is based on the principle of similars. Homeopathic principle implies that a substance/toxin that can recreate symptoms similar to a disease would also cure the disease. In order to reduce the deleterious toxic effects, the homeopathic substance is highly diluted, frequently exceeding the Avogadro number molecules per mole.

In contrast to the principle of contrarians used in other systems of medicine including allopathic medicine, homeopathy is based on the principle of similars. Thus while treating an infection with a highly diluted antibiotic medication might be construed as medical malpractice, but not so in homeopathy. An anology might be treating an infection with a probiotic. The science of dilutions used in homeopathy defies biological plausibility, continues to baffle scientists and there is an ongoing passionate debate on its effectiveness.

Results of systemetic reviews: homeopathy versus placebo

While there is paucity of data examining effect of homeopathy health and sickness, many of the independent systematic reviews and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials on homeopathy have concluded that its health effects seem to be superior to placebo.

Select conditions where homeopathy found to be effective

There is also evidence from randomized, controlled trials that homeopathy may be effective for the treatment of following:

A negative meta-analysis [Shang A; Lancet. 2005] and an accompanying editorial on the possible lack of utility of homeopathy caused quite a furor drawing numerous letters to the editor [Lancet and other peer reviewed journals and continued debate in later years] critical of not only the study but also the journal for its editorial decrying homeopathy.

According to Sir William Osler, medicine is a science of uncertainty and an art of probability. The positive health benefit seen in favor of homeopathy does not appear placebo effect and cannot be dismissed easily and summarily.

Usefulness of homeopathy for unproven conditions

Some argue that a usefulness of prescribing homeopathic medicine as compared to allopathic prescriptions for unapproved indications or no treatment whatsoever has not been studied. Intuitively, it appears that homeopathic medicines would be found to be more cost-effective even if a placebo effect.

Side effects of homeopathy

Homeopathy is generally believed to be devoid of side-effects. However, Corleto et al reported a case of esophageal ulcer due to a homeopathic pill suggesting that pill esophagitis can be triggered by substances generally thought devoid of any toxicity.

Comments

Homeopathy was the brainchild of great German from 18th century and is based on the principle of similars. Homeopathic principle implies that a substance/toxin that can recreate symptoms similar to a disease would also cure the disease. In order to reduce the deleterious toxic effects, the homeopathic substance is highly diluted, frequently exceeding the Avogadro number molecules per mole.

In contrast to the principle of contrarians used in other systems of medicine including allopathic medicine, homeopathy is based on the principle of similars. Thus while treating an infection with a highly diluted antibiotic medication might be construed as medical malpractice, but not so in homeopathy. An anology might be treating an infection with a probiotic. The science of dilutions used in homeopathy defies biological plausibility, continues to baffle scientists and there is an ongoing passionate debate on its effectiveness.

Results of systemetic reviews: homeopathy versus placebo

While there is paucity of data examining effect of homeopathy health and sickness, many of the independent systematic reviews and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials on homeopathy have concluded that its health effects seem to be superior to placebo.

Select conditions where homeopathy found to be effective

There is also evidence from randomized, controlled trials that homeopathy may be effective for the treatment of following:

A negative meta-analysis [Shang A; Lancet. 2005] and an accompanying editorial on the possible lack of utility of homeopathy caused quite a furor drawing numerous letters to the editor [Lancet and other peer reviewed journals and continued debate in later years] critical of not only the study but also the journal for its editorial decrying homeopathy.

According to Sir William Osler, medicine is a science of uncertainty and an art of probability. The positive health benefit seen in favor of homeopathy does not appear placebo effect and cannot be dismissed easily and summarily.

Usefulness of homeopathy for unproven conditions

Some argue that a usefulness of prescribing homeopathic medicine as compared to allopathic prescriptions for unapproved indications or no treatment whatsoever has not been studied. Intuitively, it appears that homeopathic medicines would be found to be more cost-effective even if a placebo effect.

Side effects of homeopathy

Homeopathy is generally believed to be devoid of side-effects. However, Corleto et al reported a case of esophageal ulcer due to a homeopathic pill suggesting that pill esophagitis can be triggered by substances generally thought devoid of any toxicity.